RecruitingACTRN12610000725066

An evaluation of the effects of a support group intervention on symptoms of depression, anxiety and burden in spouses/partners of aged care residents

A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a support group intervention in the reduction of symptoms of depression, anxiety and burden in spouses/partners of aged care residents

Sponsor

Aged Mental Health Research Unit, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University

Enrollment

80 participants

Start Date

May 1, 2010

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Burden on spouses/partners of aged care residents Depression Anxiety

Summary

This project aims to chart the wellbeing of spouses/partners of Victorian aged care residents and secondly, to investigate the effectiveness of a support and discussion group in fostering the wellbeing of spouses/partners of aged care residents. The primary measures of wellbeing are depression, anxiety and burden. It is expected that spouses/partners in either immediate or delayed treatment groups will report similar benefit following intervention.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and females

Inclusion Criteria3

Must be the spouse/partner of an aged care resident who has resided at their current facility for at least 3 months
Must be living independently
Must be able to speak fluent English

Exclusion Criteria1

None

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Interventions

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) an immediate treatment group, or 2) a delayed treatment group, also known as a waitlist control group (beginning treatment approximately 10 weeks after the immediate treatment group begins). Treatment entails weekly 2 hour support groups over 8 weeks that are facilitated by a psychologist. The groups will provide a forum where spouses can share relevant information and personal experiences relating to their shared circumstance of having a spouse/partner living in an aged care facility, and will cover topics and provide education around issues relevant to the caregiving experience, such as coping and communication strategies. Study questionnaires will be completed by all participants at two time points approximately 9 weeks apart. For the immediate treatment group, these time points will occur pre- and post-treatment. For the waitlist control group, both time points will occur before treatment.